Day 1: Arrival in Leh - Embrace the Altitude (Flight: Approx. 1hr 15mins, Transfer: 20-30mins)
- Soar Above the Clouds: Begin your adventure with a breathtaking flight from Delhi to Leh (3,500m / 11,483ft), the captivating capital of Ladakh.
- Warm Ladakhi Welcome: Our friendly local team will greet you at the airport, ensuring a smooth transition.
- Comfort & Acclimatization: Transfer to your pre-booked, comfortable accommodation in Leh.
- Rest & Recharge: Spend the remainder of the day relaxing and acclimatizing to the high altitude, preparing for the adventures ahead.
- Tranquil Overnight in Leh.
Day 2: Royal Palaces & Monastic Wonders (Drive: 30mins each way, Trek: 2hrs, Visits: 1hr & 2hrs)
- Royal Grandeur: Drive to Shey Palace (30mins), a former royal residence, and witness the awe-inspiring 350-year-old copper and gold Buddha statue (1hr visit).
- Scenic Trek to Thiksey: Embark on a delightful 2-hour walk across picturesque fields to the magnificent Thiksey Monastery, perched atop a dramatic hill.
- Spiritual Immersion: Explore the monastery's intricate temples, including the one housing the 15-meter high Future Buddha, and connect with the resident red-robed monks (2hrs visit).
- Return to Leh for Overnight.
Day 3: Journey to Skyu & Trek to Sara (Drive: 3-4hrs, Trek: 3hrs)
- Into the Zanskar Valley: Begin your trek with a scenic 3-4 hour drive to Skyu village, passing through the charming Kaya village.
- Zanskar River Crossing: Experience the thrill of crossing the mighty Zanskar River (approx. 30 mins).
- Ascend to Sara Campsite: Commence your 3-hour trek from Skyu, following a beautiful trail to the serene Sara Campsite.
- Riverside Rest: Overnight stay at Sara campsite (3350m), enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Day 4: Trekking to Markha Village (Trek: 4-5hrs, Lunch & Rest: 1hr)
- Riverside Trail: Follow the meandering river for 4-5 hours, enjoying the stunning landscapes and the rhythmic flow of the water.
- River Crossings: Experience the adventure of crossing the river, sometimes on bridges, sometimes wading through the refreshing Himalayan waters.
- Scenic Breaks: Enjoy a delightful lunch at Sara, under the shade of a traditional tea tent, and a 1-hour rest.
- Chalak & Chortens: Pass through Chalak and witness the impressive line of Chortens adorned with goat horns, believed to ward off evil spirits.
- Markha Village Immersion: Arrive at the charming Markha village (3750m), explore its small monastery, and soak in the breathtaking views.
- Village Overnight.
Day 5: Markha to Hankar (Trek: 4-5hrs, Gompa Visit: 1hr optional)
- River Crossings & Umlung: Start the day with more river crossings, heading towards the picturesque Umlung village.
- Techa Gompa Visit (Optional): Opt to visit the Techa Gompa, perched dramatically on a cliff near Umlung (1hr, adds to trek time).
- Gentle Ascent to Hankar: Enjoy a gradual 4-5 hour trek to Hankar village (4150m), with the majestic Kang Yaste peak (6400m) as your backdrop.
- Historical Glimpse: Observe the ruins of Hankar's hilltop castle, a testament to the region's rich history.
- Hankar Campsite Overnight.
Day 6: Hankar to Yakrupal (Trek: 5-6hrs)
- High-Altitude Challenge: Experience the thrill of trekking above 4500 meters during this 5-6 hour adventure.
- Mountain Pass Views: Traverse two mountain passes, offering panoramic vistas of the Zanskar region and opportunities to spot wildlife, including wolves.
- Yakrupal Serenity: Arrive at the picturesque, grassy campsite of Yakrupal (4668m), a perfect place to relax and enjoy the serene surroundings.
- High Mountain Overnight.
Day 7: Zalung Karpo La & Kharnak (Trek: 7-8hrs)
- Zalung Karpo La Summit: Conquer the Zalung Karpo La pass (5180m), rewarded with breathtaking views of the Zanskar range and the Changthang plateau. (3-4 hours of trek).
- Descent to Kharnak: Descend towards Kharnak (4160m), crossing the river multiple times, adding to the adventurous spirit of the 7-8 hour trek.
- Riverside Camp Overnight.
Day 8: Kharnak to Dat (Trek: 4-5hrs)
- Valley Trek: Follow the trail as it widens into a beautiful valley during your 4-5 hours of trekking, offering stunning views.
- Tangtse Sumdo & Dat: Reach Tangtse Sumdo and take the left trail to the charming village of Dat (4307m).
- Village Exploration: Explore the village and its surroundings.
- Dat Campsite Overnight.
Day 9: Dat to Leh via High Passes (Monastery Visit: 1hr, Drive: 4-5hrs)
- Morning Monastic Serenity: After breakfast, immerse yourself in the tranquility of Dat's ancient monastery (1hr visit).
- High-Altitude Drive: Embark on an exhilarating 4-5 hour drive back to Leh.
- Yara La, Jakang & Taglang La: Traverse the stunning Yara La (4900m), pass through Jakang, and conquer the mighty Taglang La (5320m).
- Return to Comfort: Arrive in Leh and settle into your comfortable hotel.
- Leh Overnight.
Day 10: Leisure Day in Leh
- Leh Palace Visit: Explore the historic Leh Palace, a symbol of Ladakh's royal heritage.
- Old Town Heritage Walk: Wander through the charming streets of old Leh, discovering its hidden gems.
- Souvenir Shopping: Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring the vibrant Leh market and purchasing unique souvenirs.
- Overnight in Leh.
Day 11: Departure
- Airport Transfer: Our local team will ensure a smooth transfer to Leh airport for your onward flight.
- Farewell Ladakh.
Guidelines Do’s & Don'ts
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation.
- Avoid sleeping during the day & get enough sleep at night.
- Avoid frequent smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Respect and greet the locals with Jullay (pronounced joo-lay which means Hello).
- Wear respectable outfits during your visit to sacred sites/ Monasteries.
- Kindly read the Monastery guidelines before entering a monastery.
- Ladakhi people will always be ready to help you. So, it's advisable to travel with a smile and greet Jullay.
Save the Himalayas: Follow the leave no trace policy
Majestic Ladakh proudly supports the ‘Leave no trace policy’ for our majestic Himalayas. We request you to follow the below guidelines and help us in preserving the splendid natural beauty of our country:
- Carry personal water bottles throughout the tour as locals will be always happy to provide water to refill & basically free of cost at restaurants and hotels.
- Advisable to carry a water bottle with a filter as you can refill it while travelling to any part of Ladakh.
- DZOMSA stalls are also available for refilling water bottles at just ₹7 per litre.
- Use reusable shopping bags in Leh market as plastics are totally banned in Ladakh as they are harmful to our environment.
- Do not litter. Bring back your own trash.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises.
Safety during the Trek:
- Our Trek Leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified and are trained in rescue procedures from leading mountaineering institutes and certified first-aid responders.
- Local guides who will accompany the group are certified first-aid responders and the support staff are trained in 1st Aid.
- The expedition team carries Oxygen cylinders which can be used if any medical emergency arises.
Recommended stay & food options available
- During the Markha and Kharnak valley trek, you will be staying in Moving camps.
- On a full-service moving camp, the support staff erects and dismantles the tents at different places selected for an overnight stay. Apart from the basic facilities such as hot water to drink, the staff also carries oxygen cylinders in case of a medical emergency at high altitudes. As the camp does not carry drinking water you will be camping close to the river/ stream where fresh running water is available for cooking.
- There will be toilet, shower and dining tent
- Stay in Leh and other cities:- Twin-sharing rooms are provided with breakfast
- Single rooms can be requested for a supplement and are subject to availability
In a moving camp the breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared by the cook travelling with the group. Meals options are mentioned below:
- Breakfast - porridge, cereals, eggs and toast with plenty of tea, coffee or hot chocolate
- Lunch - a picnic lunch with soup, various kinds of local bread, cheese, eggs, tinned fish, meat and fruit as per the availability.
- Afternoon snack - tea and biscuits on arrival at camp
- Dinner - usually soup, pasta, rice or potato-based main course with fresh vegetables, followed by dessert, tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Weather in Ladakh
Generally the weather is good in Ladakh during the Summer, with warm to very hot sunny days (temperatures can reach up to 30ºC/35ºC), and cool to cold nights depending on the altitude.
- There is, however, always the possibility of rain, and snow at higher altitudes, and you should be prepared for this. Ladakh, though technically part of the Tibetan Plateau and classified as a high altitude desert, can and does occasionally experience the effects of the Indian monsoon.
What is AMS?
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
How to avoid AMS?
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation
- Get enough sleep and eat healthy food
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol
If you suffer from any respiratory or health-related issues, please let the tour guide know before the start of the tour.
How is the mobile connectivity in Ladakh?
Only Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh registered pre-paid sims are serviceable in Ladakh. The following services providers/services are active in Ladakh:
- Airtel: Postpaid service
- Jio: Postpaid & pre on post-service
- BSNL: Postpaid service
You can buy and activate a new sim in Leh.
What things should I carry for the trip?
Following are the list of essentials that you should carry:
- Medicines such as Diamox, Aspirin/ Disprin, Candy bars
- Warm clothes and Thermals
- Sunglasses, sunhat & sunscreen
- Torch and power banks
- Water-bottles
- Backpack for Extra Luggage
- Warmer layers for the late August/September trips
- Soft kitbag for camping - please note that this trip is camping. A large, hard, wheeled suitcase is not recommended for camping. We suggest you bring a Sift kit bag.
How are the restaurants in Leh?
You can find plenty of restaurants in Leh serving Ladakhi, Indian, Kashmiri, Tibetan, Korean, Italian and continental food. There are always plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Please keep about £70-100 (US $110-160) for food.
Do try the Ladakhi cuisine like vegetable momos or thukpa during your time in Leh!
Booking and Cancellation Policy
